There was a crash and the memorials were scattered on the ground. Eunuch Gao shivered with fright and hurriedly knelt on the ground to clean them up. Li Shimin leaned on the back of the chair with a pale face. Opposite him stood Fang Xuanling, Li Jing, Changsun Wuji, Yu Shinan,
Wang, Tang Jian and others were all silent, looking down at the ground, no one dared to look up.
"Talk! Talk! Talk! We talked for ten days! What did we come up with? I asked him to surrender, but he refused! I said that I would provide him with soldiers and horses to assist him and set up a general to supervise the country, but he didn't allow it! On the contrary,
Just talk about some "pre-clan" thing, or just talk about Buddhism with me... He believes in Buddhism in Gaochang, what does it have to do with our Tang Dynasty? What does he want to do? Come to me to preach?! I will let you take turns
Go and talk, you guys are talking! It’s been ten days, what’s the deal?!”
"Your Majesty," seeing everyone looking at him, Yu Shinan, the Minister of Rites, had no choice but to stand up and say: "Your Majesty, the incompetence of the ministers has made your Majesty upset. But this matter is really difficult to handle. The Tang Dynasty is the Central Plains.
In the upper country, Gaochang is a small foreign country. They can not follow the etiquette, but the Tang Dynasty cannot. The leader of Gaochang, Ju Wentai, came with his wife and son to see Your Majesty. The etiquette is thoughtful enough. If Your Majesty imposes it on Gaochang, it will be the Tang Dynasty.
Unjust. Your Majesty, if the Tang Dynasty gains the reputation of being an unjust country, it may damage your Majesty’s reputation and affect future diplomatic relations with the countries in the Western Regions..."
"Shut up!" Li Shimin angrily interrupted Yu Shinan and said, "Don't talk to me about these big principles. I am not a three-year-old child! I want to know now what the purpose of Ju Wentai and his party came to Chang'an! Xixi
The Turks are watching with eager eyes, why are they so indifferent? Are they really not afraid, or are they already determined to collude with the Western Turks and become enemies of the Tang Dynasty! In five days, Ju Wentai and his party will return. Within five days, they must give me
Got it!"
Yu Shinan nodded helplessly, Li Shimin waved his hand, everyone saluted, and then left.
"The pharmacist will stay."
Li Jing paused for a moment, then turned around. When the others heard that Li Shimin had left Li Jing behind, they were shocked. Although after the self-destruction of the Turkic troops returned to the court, Li Jing was promoted to replace Du Ruhui's official position and took over.
Shangshu's right servant shot. But Li Jing always remained silent during court discussions, as if he were a piece of wood. Li Shimin rarely asked Li Jing's opinion, and the monarch and his ministers seemed to have reached a tacit understanding.
Today, Li Shimin left Li Jing behind. What does he want to do? Is he going to use troops again?
Tang Jian secretly thought that it was hard. Now the money and food for the national treasury are a problem. Sowing next spring is a problem. How can we afford to fight? But obviously he has no say in this kind of thing. He can only pray to God in his heart. Li Jing, do you want it?
To put it bluntly, this battle cannot be fought!
When Eunuch Gao went to the palace gate, Li Shimin pointed at him and said, "Give me a seat."
A young eunuch brought a chair, and Li Jing sat next to it. Li Shimin saw that Li Jing was only half-sit up, and couldn't help but said: "Pharmacist, there are no outsiders at this time, so you don't need to be so reserved, right?"
"Your Majesty, I am very reserved. I have always been like this and I am used to it."
Li Shimin sighed and said: "That's all, let's not talk about this anymore. I left you here because I want to ask you. If I conquer Gaochang, how many troops, horses and food will be needed? How many months will it take?"
Li Jing pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, and said: "Your Majesty, the expedition to Gaochang has no name, so this battle is not feasible."
Li Shimin said coldly: "I didn't ask you whether it's feasible or not. This is my business. You just need to answer my questions."
Li Jing stopped trying to persuade him and pondered for a while, then said: "Gaochang is seven thousand miles away from the capital and two thousand miles away from the desert. The climate is cold in winter and hot in summer. If it gets into a fierce battle and there is no supply of food and grass, the army will be defeated. Therefore, this battle needs to be won quickly.
If you want to win quickly, you must also be prepared for the possible reinforcements from the Western Turks... If your Majesty allows me to lead the army, one hundred thousand will be enough. Prepare four months of food and grass. If everything goes well, we will have to pay it back in March."
"What if they are all cavalry?"
Li Jing said without hesitation: "A full bow and a full armor, ten thousand is enough, and I have to pay it back in two months."
Li Shimin banged the table and gritted his teeth and said: "If Ju Wentai dares to make such a fuss with me in a year, I will destroy Gaochang! Unfortunately, I don't have 10,000 cavalry, and I don't have April food and grass, so I can only let it go and watch.
This treacherous person is acting in front of me!"
Li Jing still looked neither sad nor happy, as if this matter had nothing to do with him.
Li Shimin glanced at Li Jing and said, "My dear, aren't you curious, why did I say one year later?"
"I dare not speculate on His Majesty's thoughts."
"You are too cautious." Li Shimin was a little helpless. Now there are two generals in the court who can be commanders, one is Li Ji and the other is Li Jing. One is cautious and the other is careful. They are completely different from the old generals of the Qin Palace.
It made him extremely uncomfortable.
Li Shimin also knew why. Neither of them took a stand on the Xuanwumen Incident back then. It was only human nature to worry about it. Although Li Shimin had explicitly hinted several times, he would not care about what happened back then.
But once trust is not established, it is difficult to establish it again. To this day, it is still very awkward when we get along with each other.
"It doesn't matter, I'm telling you. I made an agreement with Li Mu, and he will earn one million for me, which will be used to build a cavalry force of ten thousand people. What do you think, do you believe Li Mu can do it?"
"Zhuluhou is indeed a young talent. If he dares to say such things, he must be able to do it."
Li Shimin laughed loudly and said: "I know you don't believe it, and neither do the auxiliary machines, but I believe him."
Li Jing smiled, but did not express any further opinions.
"Okay, please step back. It's been a cold day recently, so I better take care of my health. There are still many times when I will rely on you, so don't leave me early like Keming did."
Li Jing stood up, saluted Li Shimin, and said, "I will remember your Majesty's words."
"Go ahead."
"I excuse myself."
Li Jing turned around and left. Eunuch Gao came over and brought a cup of tea to Li Shimin. Li Shimin happened to be thirsty and took a sip. The temperature was not hot nor cold, just right. When it comes to serving Li Shimin, there is no higher event.
My father-in-law is an even better person. Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction, put down the teacup, and said, "This kid Li Mu, I haven't seen you for a few days. Did he do the things I asked him to do?"
"Your Majesty is talking about the Zheng mother and daughter?"
"What else could it be? He went to see Mrs. Zheng?"
Eunuch Gao hurriedly said: "I haven't got back to Your Majesty yet... Maybe it's because the Ministry of Internal Affairs has been busy these days. I think Zhulu Hou will go there in a few days."
"Busy?" Li Shimin frowned and said, "What is he busy with?"
"The old slave is also a member of the House of Internal Affairs. I have met Zhulu Hou several times in the past few days and heard some things." Li Mu is the chief minister of the House of Internal Affairs, and Eunuch Gao is the chief eunuch of the House of Internal Affairs. They are on the same boat.
Naturally, he wanted to make up for Li Mu: "Marquis Zhulu is busy signing orders with merchants and building up the cabinet of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Your Majesty didn't send people to him, so he plans to recruit people himself."
Looking at Li Shimin's face carefully, Eunuch Gao added: "When I saw Zhuluhou yesterday, he was quarreling with Su Guogong. The old slave heard a few words, and it seemed that Su Guogong had done something else.
During the polo match, Marquis Zhulu wanted to invest 30% of the shares in the name of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Su Guogong refused and said that he could give Marquis Zhulu 10% of the net profit. Marquis Zhulu did not want it and insisted on buying 30% of the shares in the name of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The two started to quarrel.
"
"So, Li Mu doesn't need any money himself, but he also wants to earn money for the Ministry of Internal Affairs?" Li Shimin raised his eyebrows, looked at Eunuch Gao, and said, "Why don't I believe it, Gao Gan, could it be that you were bribed by Li Mu's gold bars?
, say something nice for him?"
"Oh, how dare you, old slave!" Eunuch Gao hurriedly knelt on the ground and said, "Although this old slave has received many benefits from Zhuluhou, he has never hidden them from His Majesty. The old slave knows very well that we are His Majesty.
My servant, all I think about is Your Majesty. Even if you have the intention to say good things to Zhulu Hou, it is all true. Zhulu Hou did do that, and there is nothing false about it!"
"Get up quickly." Li Shimin asked Eunuch Gao to stand up and said: "I just said casually, what are you seriously doing? You can't be joking? That's all, I won't listen to you. I'm feeling depressed today and don't want to read the memorial. I'll send it to someone else.
Go to Zhongshu and let Cen Wenwen deal with it. I want to leave the palace and see what Li Mu is doing."
Eunuch Gao hurriedly said: "I will make arrangements right now."
"Go to Qintian Prison and call Yuan Tiangang, and the three of us will go together."
Eunuch Gao was stunned. He usually left the palace, but he never thought about Yuan Tiangang. Why didn't he dare to ask today, so he nodded in response.
After leaving the palace gate, Li Shimin ordered the guards to follow him and asked Eunuch Gao to drive. He and Yuan Tiangang sat in the car. Li Shimin changed into regular clothes and looked like a wealthy gentleman. Yuan Tiangang also changed his logo.
Sexy Taoist robes, dressed like the accountant of a wealthy family.
There was a team of bad guys under Yuan Tiangang who kept an eye on Li Mu day and night. Although they couldn't get too close, they still knew where he was. Li Mu went to the West Market and then to the Ministry of Works, and Yuan Tiangang told
Eunuch Gao, just go to the Ministry of Industry directly.
Eunuch Gao felt uncomfortable. He originally regarded accompanying Li Shimin out of the palace as his own 'privilege'. Now that there is another Yuan Tiangang, he feels uncomfortable. This grandson is still pointing fingers and refuses to listen.
But he couldn't disobey Li Shimin's wishes, so he had no choice but to say nothing and just crack the whip.
The whip was whipped quickly, and the horse naturally ran fast. After a while, the gate of the craftsman's workshop was already in sight. Suddenly, the speed of the carriage slowed down. Li Shimin opened the curtain and looked outside. He saw a large crowd of people, and his heart felt
Strange, what's going on, so many people gathered?
Looking at these people's ragged clothes and sallow complexions, could it be that they are refugees from somewhere?
Just as he was wondering, a group of guards came over, and the first one squeezed in to ask what was going on. Suddenly, a shout was heard.
"Are you servants just idle with nothing to do? When will it be your turn to take care of my affairs? Get out!"